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Forest Grove resident loses yearlong fight with city to keep Tollycraft Adventurer yacht on his property

Forest Grove Code Enforcement

Arnold Gehrke is proud of his 43-foot historic boat, but police have visited him numerous times and the city has sent several formal letters after receiving complaints about the large vessel on Gehrke's property. (Kari Bray/The Oregonian)

Gehrke said in an interview Wednesday that he moved the boat to a nearby friend's house and plans to take it to Hillsboro. He bought it in Everett, Wash., about a year and a half ago, with the hopes of restoring it to a worth around $250,000.

He plans to load the school bus he gutted and purchased a month ago with his belongings and leave for his house in northern Idaho by the end of the month.

Gehrke said he felt "victimized" by Forest Grove police, who served him five citations for leaving his boat on the property over the past year.

But he doesn't regret having the vessel, and still plans to fix it up.

"I thought this country was built on that kind of stuff. You can do what you want," Gehrke said.

He received his first citation on March 3, 2013, after a neighbor complained about it to police. Gehrke pled not guilty. When he appeared in the court on June 26, 2013, Gehrke said he showed the city paperwork to prove his boat was licensed. The court ruled against him and imposed a $500 fine.

Even after five citations and visits from Forest Grove police, Gehrke has refused to appear before the city court and to pay over $1,500 in fines.

"It's unbelievable what this city has become," Gehrke, who has lived in Forest Grove for most of his life, said. "I'm leaving. I won't come back because of this."